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Interesting general plot for a mini drama but with poor acting

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

The general plot of this mini web drama “Secrets of the Shadow Sect” is comparable to that of a bigger budget production. I find the story interesting with a FL lead who is not who she appears to be. We got a glimpse of her frivolous lifestyle and then dove right into the secret that she has. The plot continues on how her father wants that secret of hers, and expands to an evil stepmother wanting her son to be the Master of the Sect. On the other hand, we have our ML trying to get close to FL. His true intentions are slowly revealed but you won’t get the full story until the end.

All this is enough to be a full-length drama with at least 24 episodes. I think “Secrets of the Shadow Sect” did a pretty good job in consolidating all this into 3.5 hours, except for the last few episodes. The big reveal is not unexpected but could have benefited from a couple more episodes. The writing of the last episode doesn’t make sense and seems too rushed. The explanation from ML is so bad that I am sad to see it end on a low note, when I’ve enjoyed most of the episodes.

The weakest part of this drama is the acting. Both leads, Hu Yi Yao and Lin Ze Hui have appeared in quite a few mini dramas. Unfortunately, I find their acting below-average. Hu Yi Yao is so beautiful. When she plays a more seductive Ling Xuan in the early episodes, she is a lot better than in later scenes when she needs to do more subtle or emotional acting. She looks like a very pretty doll. On the other hand, Lin Ze Hui is worse. I do not think he looks handsome in this style (his profile pic on MDL is much better). His big eyes are not doing him any justice as he just widens them when he’s upset, surprised or happy. There’s no subtle microexpressions at all.

Ending on a positive note, for such a low budget drama, it does not look cheap. The sets, costumes, accessories, makeup and cinematography are not bad. Special props to the hairstylist and costume designer who did a fabulous job in dressing FL. She looks so much prettier than other female leads I’ve seen in recent period dramas.

Although the drama is quite predictable, the general story is still quite good and keeps me invested and entertained. It might not be on par with the likes of “The Killer is Also Romantic” or “A Familiar Stranger” but it’s better than most short mini dramas. If you have 3.5 hours to kill, it’s not bad.


Completed: 4/9142024 - Review #427

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Super Cringefest that's only fun if you watch with friends and laugh together

If I have to use one word to describe “Playboyy”, it would be CONSISTENT. How can a drama be so CONSISTENTLY cringey, sappy, nonsensical with poor acting all throughout the 14 episodes??? That in itself is an amazing feat.

I debated whether to rate this lower than my lowest rated drama “Coffee & Vanilla”. I finally decided to give this a whopping 4.0 just because of the entertainment value. So, now it’s my second lowest rated drama. Watch this with an open mind and enjoy the ride. Nothing makes sense!!!

A few quick thoughts as I don’t even know how to write a proper review:

1. BAD acting all around. I was hoping they would get better, but nope, it’s one of the worst-acted dramas I’ve ever seen.
Well, at least some guys are hot and have nice bodies.
2. I am fine with all the sex and the different fetishes, fantasies, etc. In fact, I wanted the drama to go bolder and more explicit.
3. It ended up wanting to be unique but not quite achieving that. All the sexy scenes are just cringey.
4. I also cringe every time the random English dialogs pop up out of nowhere.
5. Too many names and I don’t remember who’s who. I barely recognize all of their faces. Gotta go with the nicknames.
6. There are some crazy outfits worn in the drama, especially by Nant.
7. I wonder if the actors all get boxes of underwear as part of their deals. There’s so much product placement in this drama.
8. I quite liked the romance between Zouey and Teena (Greek god) in the beginning, but then they disappeared after they got together, and became the most boring pair. The drama threw in a twist in the end and then gave you the worst writing ever.
9. What the heck is that ending??? Is there going to be a season 2? Did the drama run out of money to write a complete season 1? The screenwriter got to be fired.

Unfortunately, I did not join any watch parties. This would be an amazing drama to watch with friends and laugh about it. Do I recommend it? Definitely NOT unless you have nothing better to do, or you just want a cringefest to laugh with your friends.


Completed: 3/2/2024 - Review #411

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Fear of loneliness, and Fear of what happened after Love is found

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.5
Objective Rating: 8.0

Disclaimer:
The high rating might be skewed and definitely subjective because I am looking for a happy, stress-free watching due to real life’s stress. “Boyfriend on Demand” gave me a dose of happiness in the virtual and drama worlds. Therefore, you may not agree with my rating or review, and that is A-OK 🙂

The general plot of “Boyfriend on Demand” is nothing special. There are many similar dramas already, with characters escaping reality’s struggles and addicted to an alternate reality. But of course, this will eventually blow up, but through the process, the main characters usually find their way of knowing who they really are, and as in rom-com fashion, find love at the end of the process. “Boyfriend on Demand” follows a very similar script. Whether this is a good or bad thing, depends on what you are looking for.

The first half of the drama focuses a lot on the different virtual boyfriends our female lead, Mi Rae, met in virtual reality. Guest stars Seo Kang Jun (eps 2-5), Lee Soo Hyuk (eps 1-2) and Choi Si Won (eps 9-10) have the most screen time, respectively. Seo Kang Jun, with his beautiful and sparkly eyes, is definitely the star of all the guest stars. He reminds me of his sweet character in “When The Weather is Fine”. His pink college heartthrob storyline and the perfect green flag captures the audience’s hearts. He is just so damn beautiful. Let’s not forget the mature second-chance romance boyfriend who is considerate and caring. Who wouldn’t want a VR boyfriend like him? We were actually first introduced to cold chaebol, played by the sexy Lee Soo Hyuk. You know, the cliche CEO is cold to everyone but doting on the female lead? Yup, that’s him. This is probably the closest to me watching a mature and sexy Lee Soo Hyuk in a romantic comedy. There are several other virtual boyfriends introduced (though limited screentime) that are also quite fun.

Some might complain that the drama focuses too much on these VR boyfriends early on, especially if you are a fan of Seo In Guk. He does have limited screen time but this is to set up the character development of FL for when their romance finally develops. Afterall, this is a story of Mi Rae, and all the other handsome guys are just part of her journey. But don’t worry, Seo In Guk has plenty of scenes later on. His dual roles are fun and I love seeing a shy guy open up. His cute flirting and courting of Mi Rae are endearing.

There are many reasons for women to sign up for “Boyfriend on Demand”. It could be accidental, or they are lonely, or they are stressed out in real life, or they just need a space where they could date around and not be judged by society’s eyes. This drama scratched the surface of some of these reasons, though not in detail. But no matter what, this ‘secret’ will eventually be revealed and these women will have to deal with the aftermath. I personally felt that the writer’s story arc didn’t quite receive the full closure in respect to the backlash, but it did close on a personal note.

Mi Rae’s journey with these boyfriends helped her grow. The revelation of her use, though predictable, was handled well. I shed a few tears in the last couple episodes, but not in a really sad and angsty way. I felt for her and also her boyfriend’s hesitancy. Of course, one could criticize that all you need is to talk to each other. Very true, but in reality, it isn’t that simple and the drama doesn’t drag that for long.

Despite mixed reviews, I really had a great time binge-watching “Boyfriend on Demand”. It might not have offered anything unique, but the colorfulness, the ridiculousness, the comedy (not too over-the-top), the cuteness and fluffiness, and the romance all work for me. As I said, I am intentionally seeking out dramas like this to satisfy my need. It worked out perfectly for me. Now I am recharged! Do I recommend it? It really depends on what you are looking for. For something fun, colorful and easy…of course! For something unique and not cheesy…probably not.



Completed: 3/22/2026 Review #676

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Indisputable excellent fight scenes but with a Thin plot

When the Director is famed martial artist Yuen Woo Ping + Producer, martial artist and Male Lead Wu Jing + the one and only Jet Li as a guest star, there is NO doubt that “Blades of the Guardians” will have excellent fight choreography and amazingly performed action scenes by everyone.

If you enjoy the traditional old-school wuxia fights, you are in for a treat. This movie is action-packed from start to finish. Every single actor looks like a warrior out there, no matter if you are a man or woman. The hard-hitting close combat fights, and the swinging blades and fists are sure to delight many wuxia fans. I was totally impressed with everyone putting in their hardest effort. Reading a little about this movie, I found out that the original Princess role was played by Mongolian actress, Narnaash, but she was blacklisted due to fake education records. But do not fear because Chen Ji Jun (with a martial arts background herself) took that role and RAN with it. Playing against veterans such as Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and the handsome Yu Shi and Ci Sha, my eyes were glued to her! She was amazing in every way! If we are speaking of acting performances, everyone was great - from the veterans and guest stars down to the young boy, Little 7.

But if you are looking for a more balanced movie, unfortunately, “Blades of the Guardians” is unable to provide you with that. The plot may not be difficult to understand but most background information was provided by a few quick flashbacks. As amazing as the action scenes are, I wish the drama had sacrificed a few of them, and given me more screentime on the relationship and backgrounds of the characters. I want to know more about the Guardians, so that I can care about them more. There’s not enough breathing room in between the scenes for me to think and feel.

Since “Blades of the Guardians” is an adaptation of a manhua, the story hasn’t quite ended yet. But the movie does close its first arc, focusing on the bounty hunters, fugitives and the desert. The story should continue on in Chang’an, if there’s a second movie.

Is it recommended? Yes, if you enjoy excellent action and fight scenes. These fights are hard-hitting and brutal (not for the faint-hearted). But if you are looking for excellent storytelling, "Blades of the Guardians" is not quite there. But two hours in the movie theater did pass by rather quickly and I didn’t check for time at all. I was entertained and focused.



Completed: 2/26/2026 Review #670

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Sweet Romance can't save Below Average acting and Annoying Childish character

Looking for a drama full of fluffy moments? Look no further because “Your Sky” will give you cavities, especially if you like the cute and adorable leads who are always happy and smiley. The main romance is practically smooth-sailing from start to finish and the drama won’t give you angst. There’s an episode towards the end that might give you a momentarily pause on the sugar, but it only lasted an episode and it’s for an understandable reason.

However, I have two main criticisms of “My Sky”

Acting - The acting is overall below average. I understand the leads are not that experienced but it’s really hard to see them either act exaggeratedly or emotionlessly. There are flashes of decent acting but not enough. I would not say they are horrible but their acting did bug me from start to finish. I can’t deny Thomas (as Muenfah) is a handsome fellow and when he’s not so wooden and flashes a shy little smile, I have a silly grin on my face. On the other hand, Kong’s happy Teerak is harder to tolerate. Both main leads’ line delivery also seem robotic. It seems like they are thinking really hard to remember the lines and carefully deliver them.

Teerak’s childish character - Teerak is supposed to be a 20-year college student. But he behaves like a 15-year old high school kid. You can be happy and sunshiney without whining and acting like a child. What’s worse is his whole family treating him like a kid. It’s no wonder he acts like one. Just the regular family interaction gives me the shivers. Teerak’s friends also treat him like this naive little boy. Muenfah definitely dotes on his little boyfriend. He’s the perfect green flag boyfriend that does everything for you, cares for you and lovingly pats your head. It was just a little too much. And because the drama builds Teerak’s character to be such a child, it was a little weird watching his first NC/intimate scene.

Despite listing two major pain points, this is an easy-to-watch drama. Like I said, it’s full of sweet moments. The friends group are lovable and supportive. Even the annoying ‘villain’ isn’t that bad. I especially like the first half of the drama when the leads are trying to learn to act like a couple in a pretend relationship. I’m also a big fan of fake/contract relationships, so as they are pretending and falling in love, that’s my favorite part of the show. Muenfah is such a sweetheart. He asks for permission and checks in the next morning to make sure Teerak is fine. Consent in a Thai BL? No forced kisses? No wrist grab? Wow!

After they got together, we got some really sweet and cute moments. But the plot is not moving and not much happened, except for the family drama. The last few episodes are over an hour long each, and the drama feels like it’s dragging towards the finish line. The secondary best-friends-to-lovers couple and the last-minute boring couple are not given sufficient time to develop their storyline. What a waste of a potential good best-friend-to-lovers romance. They should have scraped that boring last-minute couple completely.

But to end on a good note, the kisses are great. I spotted a little tongue action from Thomas. Their kisses are sweet and romantic, yet passionate and not eating each other’s faces. Their last intimate scene shows growth in the characters and in their love story. There’s visibly more passion and a little lust, yet still done in a tasty manner. Thomas looks really good in his non-school uniform and he is quite handsome. They actually show these students in school, and working on class projects and not just hanging out in the cafeteria and causing problems. Muenfah’s family is super sweet and adorable, though unrealistic.

I am not sure if I will recommend this drama because I am not a fan of the acting (it’s not horrible but it’s a personal taste). However, if you are looking for something sweet and cute, and are more forgiving about the acting performance of these young and inexperienced actors than me, then this is a good watch for a quick sugar rush.




Completed: 1/6/2026 Review #659

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Elements of an epic drama but individual Arcs fail to weave together for greater impact

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

“Love in Pavilion” has all the elements of an epic fantasy xianxia that can move me to tears, especially when it has such a strong focus on romance. I LOVE romance. But as I am approaching the last quarter of the drama, I realized why it didn’t hit me with all the feelings as much as “Moonlight Mystique” (MM). I finished MM not too long ago and even though the plot is different, there are some similarities. I love MM and felt its strength is the weakness of “Love in Pavilion” (LIP).

MM is able to weave each individual supporting character’s arc beautifully and harmoniously into the overarching plot. The most important part is that MM introduces all characters in the earlier episodes and allows viewers to start caring for them individually early on. When such an affection is established, what happens to them later on affects me deeply, because I already fell in love with each and everyone of them.

Unfortunately, I have not developed such an affection for the supporting cast in LIP. Although the actors did a fine job acting wise, and their stories are heartwarming and heartwrenching, it did not arouse the same emotions compared to MM. After one arc is over, I just move on to the second one, and so on. It’s not until the last few episodes during the final battle do I really feel for the characters. At that point, I already knew the ending and though sad, it didn’t gut punch me as hard.

However, I can’t deny loving the guest roles and the small supporting roles of some big stars. They often are scene stealers and overshadow the main cast. Ding Yu Xi is especially outstanding as Zhang Zheng. His eyes really shine the brightest with the different emotions. I would have liked to see him introduced sooner and start building his sideplot and not wait till the second half. I also enjoy Charles Lin’s portrayal of the Demon Jiu Huo. He was deliciously charismatic compared to Zhang Yun Long as the main lead. The rest of the supporting cast did well individually, but it lacked chemistry as a group/duo/trio.

To be fair, Zhang Yun Long actually did a pretty good job. I think it’s the writing of his character that is the problem and it makes him pale in comparison to the aforementioned actors/characters. I miss seeing Wangquan Hong Ye when he was powerful, manipulative and a little cunning in the first few episodes. But once he falls in love and the drama focuses so much on his romance, he becomes an adorable loverboy. I also find Zhang Yun Long and Liu Shi Shi’s chemistry to be only decent. Liu Shi Shi always gives me the impression of a graceful, mild-mannered but standoff-ish beauty. Their love is too mature and too calm as a river for the most part. I am missing some underlying sizzle or angst (except the few scenes when FL was being a seductress). Oh, their kisses are disappointing. In fact, almost all the kisses are disappointing except for one of Ding Yu Xi’s.

I watched quite a number of xianxia in the last couple months, and unfortunately, this one is one that I didn’t enjoy as much, and I really wanted to. I don’t deny the fact that I might be having a xianxia hangover/fatigue. Therefore, I can’t really say whether I can recommend or not recommend this drama. I didn’t watch the prequel (Red-Moon Pact) and that didn’t affect my understanding of the “Love in Pavilion”. But I do plan to watch the sequel (Sword and Beloved) to follow the next generation’s story, well, unless the reviews are as bad as Red-Moon Pact.


Other Random Observations:
I am disappointed that everyone is dubbed in this drama.
But, I do think Zhang Yun Long’s real voice might not match the voice of Wangquan Hong Ye. The voice actor sounds better.
CGI is bad in the beginning but seems to have improved in the second half. There’s a lot of CGI fighting (as in other xianxia dramas).
Not enough happy moments to balance out the sad moments.
I like the costumes and accessories, especially the guest roles.
ML’s mask is too hilarious. I can’t blame Liu Shi Shi for not being able to keep a straight face.


Completed: 5/17/2025 - Review #577

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Great for Macau Tourism, but drama lost its focus on the leads in the last quarter of the drama.

As a Macau native myself, I was really excited to see that a drama was set in Macau and starring the sexy Elvis Han. Of course, I’ve got to check it out. I believe this drama was made in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macau’s Handover back to mainland China from Portugal.

If the drama’s main goal is to celebrate and promote Macau to attract tourists, “Begin Again” scores a 10/10. It showcases the beautiful sceneries of Macau, both the modern Las Vegas of the East full of world class hotels and resorts, but also Macau’s Chinese and Portuguese cultures and influences. There are many food scenes of delicious and expensive-looking food, and local delicacies with neighborly and familial love. After watching this drama, you would definitely want to visit Macau.

However, if I judge “Begin Again’ strictly as a drama, then I am giving this an 8 out of 10. Despite excellent chemistry and acting performances from the four main leads, their romantic stories were not executed perfectly. This is due to the drama’s lack of focus on the main leads especially in the last few episodes. The drama wasted time on characters such as Casey, her family drama and the piano boy. Their friendship is unique and could have been fun if they had their own drama. But in “Begin Again”, their storyline feels out of place and takes away time from the leads. Additionally, too much time was spent on Howard and Jia Jia, and Jia Jia’s parents’ relationships. I fast-forwarded some of their scenes.

On a positive note, I really enjoy the collaboration of Chinese and Hong Kong actors. I was so glad the Cantonese wasn’t dubbed over into Mandarin. It’s just not the same as the Cantonese jokes and slang would be lost in translation. As a Cantonese speaker myself, I enjoy the Xu family scenes immensely - their banter, argument and nosiness. The Xu family brings out the warmth in a slice-of-life drama. I just need them, I don’t need the other side characters.

But as for the main reason for my watch, of course it’s for my big crush on Elvis Han, especially after seeing him in “Fake It Till You Make It”. I was glad to see Elvis in a different role. He’s a little shy and not the confident playboy that he was in the other drama. He’s actually quite adorable in his cute flirting and pursuit of Josephine/Chen Jia Hui. Elvis and Zhong Chu Xi have great chemistry together, though their romance peaks too early. I thought the flirting and the push-and-pull will last longer but I guess since they are mature and know what they want, they went for it. Nevertheless, they are a visually beautiful pair.

The other romantic pair is the more adorable couple of Mai You Ge and Xu Jun Le. Their opposite attracts romance develops a little more slowly from friends-to-lovers. They also have great chemistry, but not the sizzling version as the other pair. And like most viewers, I am more invested in them. Unfortunately, they seem to have disappeared in the last quarter of the drama. After the confession, I was expecting a little more of them as they navigate through these emotions and reality. Instead, they gave way to the other minor characters who took up way too much time in the last few episodes.

The leads careers also play a big part in the drama, especially when romance seems to have helped each of them grow and impact them in some of their life decisions. I enjoy scenes of their professions. I may not be a fan of car racing, but watching Elvis race (he’s actually a race car driver and has a license) is a pleasure. I was glad the drama did not gloss over the Grand Prix scenes as those were actually quite exciting. The Grand Prix is a big deal in Macau, so I actually doubt they would cut those scenes. Afterall, the drama wants to promote Macau.

I would recommend this drama if you are interested in learning more about Macau and are thinking of it as a future vacation destination. It’s also a good drama to watch if you are fans of the leads and are looking for something quite light-hearted. However, I would not say this is a must-watch.


Completed: 4/14/2025 - Review #566

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Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I came in with low expectations because I am not a fan of over-the-top comedy. I heard about some of the second-hand embarrassment and seen posts about them. However, I like Landy Li and also want to see Tan Jian Ci in a comedy, so I am giving this a try. Despite what I worried about did come true a little, I had a good time watching the drama, especially in the second half (minus a few episodes).

Comedy
I might drop this drama if I came in blind and knew nothing about it. The second-hand embarrassment comedy really isn’t my cup of tea. Luckily, it tones down after episode 6 or 7. There are actually many funny moments and dialogues that I enjoy and the drama does not need to resort to the overdramatic and crazy stuff. The cast has great comedic timing, the drama has a great message, and the plot despite it being a ‘fantasy’ is sincere. But this is all very subjective. I recognize there are others who enjoy this type of humor or are in need of it at the moment.

Pacing/Plot
As I mentioned, I actually liked the second half of the drama more. I think the arc with Su Miao lasts too long. I was getting impatient and wanted to know when the truth is going to come up and when the leads can start developing their relationship. Fang Jin and Quan Sheng Tang’s arc is a little shorter and I believe when the real Fang Jin showed up that I started to really enjoy the drama. It was during her arc when the message of loving and respecting oneself first truly shines. I also feel back for our poor ML. Not only was he lied to many times, he had 3 traumatic experiences because of the Filter. It was just too much for anyone to endure. I thought he should be angry for longer! I also wish the drama didn’t spend so much time on Gu Yu and Lin Yuan in the last 3 episodes.

Main Leads -Tang Qi (ML) and Su Cheng Cheng (FL) are both flawed by very likable characters.
Tang Qi (Tan Jian Ci) - It’s nice to see Tan Jian Ci play a nerdy scientist/researcher who has never been in love, yet questions his own character when he falls in love twice within a short period of time. Tang Qi has some ‘red flags’ as well. Maybe due to his profession, he is persistent and won’t give up until he gets his answers. His stalkerish and overbearing behavior towards Su Miao and Fang Jin could be alarming. They clearly wanted to avoid him, yet he won’t give up. But you can’t deny he is sweet, caring, considerate and thoughtful. When he’s with Su Cheng Cheng finally, he’s the perfect boyfriend. He is nerdy shy yet assertive, caring and thoughtful, and supportive in the most calming and mature way.
Su Cheng Cheng (Landy Li) - I applaud Landy for wearing minimal makeup for most of the drama with pimples here and there. But it’s quite a stretch to say Su Cheng Cheng and Landy Li are unattractive. She’s so pretty! Poor girl has gone through a lot her whole life despite trying to work hard and be the best that she could be. Who could have faulted her for falling into the slippery slope or opening the Pandora box of the Filter. Su Cheng Cheng is a female lead that I root for from beginning to the end. She’s hardworking, smart and observant, who when given the chance, excels in her work and doesn’t have to rely on any guy.

Romance
Tang Qi and Su Cheng Cheng really tested my patience. It took a very long time for the truth to be revealed and a chance for them to be together. I would have liked another episode or two of the courting, and then another episode of them being cute together. But once they are together, the drama rewards my patience with their sweet interactions. I love an adorkable nerdy ML, and Tan Jian Ci delivers big time. Whenever I see them together, I grinned like an idiot with a big smile on my face. It doesn’t hurt that their kisses are spaced out well (not feeling forced or like fan service) and they are not dead fish kisses.
Gu Yu and Lin Yuan are also very cute together. I enjoy the development of their romance from enemies to lovers. They have great chemistry and just take up enough screen time for me to care about their storyline without taking too much time away from the main leads. However, when the reason why Lin Yuan was hesitant to date Gu Yu was revealed, I have a feeling that reason is going to cause some trouble in the future. And I was right. They took up the last 3 episodes of the drama, and I wish that time was devoted to our leads instead. That little bit also doesn’t jive with the general theme of the drama, but it’s more about them. But they have great chemistry and it doesn’t hurt to see another green flag boyfriend on my screen.

Acting + Supporting Cast
The four main leads did not disappoint. I’ve seen them in many other dramas before and know that they can act. Tan Jian Ci was excellent playing this nerdy and adorkable male lead. It’s a big contrast when he’s the professional developing the next big item, and when he’s in love and acting all inexperienced. Landy Li’s role also demands her to have a range of emotions, and she delivers. The rest of the supporting cast did well with a mix of veterans (FL’s super supportive parents) and child actors (younger versions of the leads).

Production
I find it interesting that I don’t like the makeup in this drama, especially the men” Tan Jian Ci, Gao Han Yu and Wang Hong Yi. Compared to when I saw Gao Han Yu in “Dine with Love” he looks less handsome with a pale and gaunt look. Is it just me thinking that? Landy Li with her minimal makeup looks so much prettier than some with the white cakey foundation. On the other hand, “Filter” has an interesting and eclectic OST. I don’t think we can find another song in any other drama that’s about an alpaca. Too bad I can’t find the full OST on Spotify. It is always lovely to hear Tan Jian Ci sing in his drama.


Overall, I had a good time watching this drama. I would recommend this if you are looking for something lighthearted and funny, and don’t like some over-the-top comedy. Fans of Tan Jian Ci and Landy Li should check this out as well. “Filter” has a good message and it’s more than loving and respecting oneself. In the last episode, when the 'final touch' product was introduced, the leads spoke of a very important message to convey. I believe that’s the main moral of the story/drama. I don’t want to spoil it, but will put that in the comment section. Because this was a slow start for me, I can't give this a solid 8.5+. But it's on par to how I feel about "The First Frost" and "The Best Thing" - an 8.25


Completed: 4/6/2025 - Review #564

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Despite a very common plot, there are many touching moments

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I am reviewing “Breeze by the Sea” as a standalone drama, and not an adaptation of the Korean drama, “Top Star Yoo Baek”. Hey, this drama is directed by Peter Ho and got a small cameo and was quite funny. And he lost weight as he proclaimed!

“Breeze by the Sea” has a very common plot that we’ve seen in many other slice-of-life dramas before, about a city person moving or spending time in a rural area/village/island. You see the foreigner, in this case, superstar Bai Yin Mo, escaped to the island of Kinmen after a series of scandals and a botched reputation. Even though nothing is unique, there are many touching moments and I have shed quite a few tears.

Bai Yin Mo has a difficult personality and was coined by our female lead as a sea urchin: a spiky personality yet mushy and caring inside. Whether intentional or not, Bai Yin Mo becomes the catalyst and the main driving force in helping these islanders mend their broken relationships. While helping others and with the support of our strong and resilient starfish female lead, Li Hai Nuo, Yin Mo slowly put down his spikes and relaxed his difficult personality.

In dramas like this, there's a 50-50 chance that you will encounter villagers/islanders that might annoy the heck out of me because they are too loud or annoying. I’m glad we got a lovely bunch here. They were a little much in the first couple episodes, but toned down and became a found family for our ML. They actually aren’t that loud, which was a great relief for me. Their stories are touching and realistic, though not unique. The acting of the supporting cast is good, especially the veterans.

Speaking of veterans, we have a lovely grandmother! Each time there’s such an adorable, caring and perfect grandmother, I pray to the drama gods that they don’t kill her off (not saying this as a spoiler or not, just a general comment and wish). I love her relationship with her granddaughter Hai Nuo, but even more so is the precious friendship/found familial bond with Bai Yin Mo. She provides the family warmth that Yin Mo never had. I love the scenes of the three of them together.

We do have a love triangle here, but it’s not a bad one. It’s nice to have a second male lead who is genuinely a good guy and even become ‘bros’ with ML. It was hilarious at first when they were drunk and called each other ‘bros forever’ but afterwards, it’s just cringey when I heard the word ‘bro’ again and again.

Even though there’s a love triangle, romance is not a focus in this drama. Bai Yin Mo and Li Hai Nuo have many scenes together and they are fun with great chemistry. Their relationship is slow burn but developed naturally from disliking each other, to friends, to lovers. They support each other during tough times. Unfortunately, we only got two cute and fluffy scenes before life happens and derails them. I am especially disappointed in the last episode which I feel is a very rushed ending to their romance. I felt cheated like we skipped some scenes and they just showed us the conclusion. As much as I love all the cute illustrations (and they are SUPER cute), it feels like I am missing a full episode. Therefore, I docked 0.25-0.5 points from this drama. Arghhh….

Another negative surprise is the amount of product placement. I don’t think I’ve seen so many in a non-BL Taiwanese drama before, especially in the last quarter of the drama. Maybe they really need a lot of money to bring the whole cast to Kinmen to shoot this drama.

I would recommend this drama if you are a fan of and are craving island slice-of-life dramas. There are many touching and realistic moments that I love, but nothing you’ve never been before. “Breeze by the Sea” has solid acting, a nice small town feel of Kinmen and beautiful seaside shots. It’s heartwarming and healing.


Completed: 2/9/2025 - Review #542

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Decent short Vertical drama with Good Romance and Chemistry

Saw a fellow MDL friend recommended “Evening Star for You” as a pretty good vertical drama. I was in need of a quick romance fix. Here we are, 100 episodes later (which is only about 3.5 hours long), I got my fix.

It’s true that it’s pretty good for a low budget production. I watched the compiled version on YouTube with muted music and sound. It was a little annoying, but it’s to be expected. The romance is developed nicely and quite sweet. The acting of the leads is solid and they have good chemistry together. I am a fan of contract marriage, and their relationship is healthy with good communication. Even if there’s some misunderstanding, the issue is resolved quickly and just helps to build a more solid foundation of their love. If you need a quick romance fix, this is a good one.

But of course, there are still some plot holes here and there. We have a couple irritating ‘villains’ but no one so despicable that ruined my viewing pleasure. You’ll see characters recycling their outfits and some are super cliche and laughable. But it’s all in good fun and I guess part of vertical dramas’ charms?


Completed: 11/23/2024 - Review #519

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Is it ok to live your life like this?

J-dramas are great in highlighting interesting professions and “Tenshoku no Mao-sama” aka “Demon King of Job Changing” introduces us to the world of career change advisors.

The plot is very simple. Each episode showcases a job seeker who wants to change their job for different reasons. Our leads support them in digging deep into their heart to find out why they want/don’t want to change, and what jobs they really want. Once the job seekers know what they really want, our leads will find them the most suitable one to interview based on their criteria.

There’s a lot of self-discovery in this drama. Not only are the job seekers doing that, but our leads also have gone through a difficult time in the past, and have to learn to heal and move forward. ML has a total personality change after his injury and was forced to leave his dream job. FL crumbled under the stress of power harassment and had to pick herself back up as well. This dynamic duo is supporting and learning from each other as mentor/mentee. Their personalities are total opposite yet they complement each other so well, and they make great partners.

Do not watch this looking for romance. There might be some positive feelings between the leads, but they were never explicitly shared. There are some interesting characters and stories, and all of them are easy to digest. This is an easy watch with pretty good acting (not too much over-the-top anime-style acting). You might resonate with some of the stories.

To me, “Tenshoku no Mao-sama” is missing an emotional punch to give this a higher rating. I do enjoy watching the leads and follow their story of growth, and think they have good chemistry. If you are looking for a career change or a new job, this drama might offer some inspiration.


Completed: 11/16/2024 - Review #516

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Mature, Gloomy, Thought-Provoking

“Imperfect Us” is a mature, gloomy and thought-provoking drama. I wasn’t really expecting it to be so depressing. I don’t resonate with these characters, but I feel their pain, anger, frustration, and regret. One paper, this is a story about a love triangle - two women with the same birthday (not year), working in the same company and falling in love with the same man.

But “Imperfect Us” is so much more than that. Each character is imperfect and they make choices that make it easy for viewers to point their fingers at them and criticize. I have to be honest, I do not like Chien Ching Fen (played by Ariel Lin) very much in the first couple episodes. I find her pushy, calculating and annoying. I don’t like how she forces herself into Ho Re Chich’s life and schemes herself to be the favorite daughter-in-law.

As I follow Ching Fen’s obsession with Rebecca, the trio's background story slowly unveils. A wife who is unsure and not confident that her husband really loves her, drives herself insane with jealousy by prying into her the private life of her ‘enemy’ via social media posts. The grass always seems to be greener on the other side, from both female leads’ perspectives. But since I, as a viewer, isn’t really quite certain if the husband’s love for her wife is gratitude + responsibility or real love, I don’t really blame her for being paranoid and obsessed.

Poor Rebecca seems to be the unluckiest of all. Is she really enjoying her carefree, single lifestyle? Was her decision to leave based on selfish reasons, or selfless reasons? Episode 7 breaks my heart. It’s the most impactful episode to me. How desperate is she to lower herself and ask to be loved despite her flaws? How hopeless is she to bare it all and be vulnerable? Or is this all a selfish act so that the decision is made by someone else, and she can be pitiful and blame others?

All their complicated relationships are exposed in the last episode when the two female leads go head-to-head in chess playing. At first, I thought this episode was a filler episode because they really didn’t do much. But once you pay attention to what they are saying, you discover their conversations are full of hidden meanings, and each is trying to bait the others to reveal more.
Each move is calculating and setting up for the next turn.

I would only recommend this for those who like flawed characters with mature storylines. This is not a happy drama but one full of real life difficult decisions. It did take me a couple episodes to get into the groove, but the second half really hooked me in. The acting of the small cast is great, and each of the characters hit you differently. Actually, Ariel Lin just won the best leading actress award at the Asian film festival for her role in “Imperfect Us”.


Completed: 10/9/2024 - Review #497

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Great Chemistry and Interesting Romances but could be Shorter and Tighter

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

For some reason, a non-suffering Luo Yun Xi is not attracting a big crowd to watch “Follow Your Heart”. Don’t you want to see him not spit blood and be happy for once? LOL.

For the most part, “Follow Your Heart” is a really enjoyable drama. It is just a tad too long (like many C-dramas) and then plot holes start to happen when you’re unable to keep up with the writing. The first ⅔ of the drama is great, especially the dynamics between the two main leads before they are officially together. The side couples are sweet and there really aren't any annoying characters.


What I Like:

Jiang Xin Bai (ML) and Yan Nan Xing (FL)
Luo Yun Xi and Song Yi did an excellent job in portraying the two main characters. They are experienced not only in acting, but also in delivering lines without the use of voice actors. I really appreciate that very much. Jiang Xin Bai and Yan Nan Xing are both intelligent characters with fun banter and dynamics. The chemistry is great and I enjoy how they slowly develop from strangers to comrades to lovers. The romance develops slowly and naturally. They trust each other and have honest communication.

Ryan Cheng
It’s nice to see Ryan in a role where he’s not just cold after all his mini dramas and “My Journey to You”. In fact, he’s hot-headed and impulsive yet a little dumb and adorable when in love. It’s a different side of Ryan Cheng that I haven’t seen. Acting alongside Luo Yun Xi and other veterans, he holds his own.

Platonic Friendships
I love the found family trio of Yan Nan Xing, Tong Sai Er and Liu Ruo Qian. They are just three very different individuals who happen to all settle into Yan Nan Xing’s shop. They support and care for each other. It’s lovely to not see any romance developed, and yet they help each other out in the romance department. This trio brings a lot of joy to the story. On the other hand, I am also very glad to see another platonic friendship between Shang Bie Li and JIang Suo Luo. I guess they are united because of their hatred/animosity towards Jiang Xin Bai. But this pair is mature and supportive, and really look out for each other’s best interests in a non-judgmental way.

Supporting Romance
Oftentimes, the secondary and tertiary romances are not as fun as the main romance. But in this drama, I really enjoy all three pairs. Each pair has a unique story and I root for all of them to live happily ever after. It also helps that we don’t have an evil, jealous secondary female lead who won’t take no for an answer. In a way, this is refreshing and nice.

Production Quality
I think aside from two supporting characters, all actors use their own voices. There’s a mix of live recording and studio recording (and dubbed over). I am a big fan of actors using their own voice, even if some are doing it better than others. “Follow Your Heart” also has good and high quality-looking costumes and hairstyles, sets and accessories. Even though the everyday costumes are simple, they look nicely made and not cheap. There are quite a few weddings in this drama, and I admire all the wedding gowns and beautiful headdresses and fans. The OST was not overplayed with songs that suit the moods of the scenes. There are a few very well-choreographed fight scenes. I actually wish I could see more of them throughout the drama.



What I don’t like or have mixed feelings:

Length/Plot holes/Writing
My biggest criticism of the drama, as mentioned earlier, is the length of the drama. It takes forever for the real villain to be exposed (I did guess it might be that person). 30 episodes are probably enough to tell the whole story. There are a couple plot holes, especially in relation to FL’s secret. She kept that secret for so long, and all of a sudden towards the end, so many people knew about it. No one seems to take it to heart that it is a BIG secret and you might want to gossip with doors closed. ML’s secret, on the other hand, was exposed without much fanfare. How the drama deals with the revelation of both secrets was not written well and very anti-climatic. I was expecting more, especially when the writing was pretty good in the first half. The love triangle at the end started too late. It needed more depth but instead, it’s hard to believe the guy fell in love so quickly and deeply in such a short period of time, and made enormous sacrifices.

FL’s secret
The face change plot takes a backseat in the first quarter of the drama. The secret was introduced but it doesn’t really affect what’s happening that much. I wonder if this disappoints many viewers. Although I appreciate this secret is not exaggerated to be full-on comedy, the writing and the usage of the face change could have been better.

Gu Zi Cheng (as Liu Ruo Qian)
Li Ruo Qian is a very likable character. He’s good-looking, smart, kind, sweet and a crowd pleaser. He’s a total green flag! However, there’s something about Gu Zi Cheng’s acting that doesn’t seem very genuine. When he smiles, that smile doesn’t always reach his eyes. He’s a handsome actor, but his acting does not seem natural. He’s not bad, but compared to solid actors like Luo Yun Xi and Ryang Cheng, he’s not quite up to that standard.



Overall, I had a good time watching this drama. The writing could have been better and tighter, but the overall acting and chemistry of the cast are really good. The veteran actors add a lot of flavor to the story, especially the multifaceted queen (ML’s mother).



Completed: 8/15/2024 - Review #471

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Strong leads chemistry but not enough to compensate for uninspiring fantasy plot

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

“Eye Love You” has so much potential yet the writing and execution did not live up to the high expectations after a very lovely start. The adorable Chae Jong Hyeop carries the show on his back with a little assistance from his co-star, female lead, Nikaido Fumi.

The best part about “Eye Love You” is the chemistry between the leads. They are so adorable together: from their initial encounter to Tae Oh assertively courts Yuri. Chae Jong Hyeop has such a cute, puppy face that when he smiles, he lights up the screen and there’s no way anyone can say no to him. Nikaido Fumi is beautiful with big round, emotive eyes. Together, they are a beautiful pair with good chemistry. However, there are some frustrating moments as well. Tae Oh might be a tad obsessive and pushy, while Yuri is quite wishy-washy and indecisive.

The show knows viewers would love their romance, thus, might have intentionally or unintentionally dedicated more than 60% of the screen time on their cat-and-mouse romance. I was watching this for a unique fantasy romance, but what I got was a slice-of-life drama with the sole focus on the romance and nothing much for 6 - 7 episodes. When they finally got to the mystery of the special power, it was like child’s play. Why and how did she get the superpower? Is it really because of the accident? For such a serious consequence for being in love, everyone just believes in whatever that person says? The last couple episodes were rushed and the ending is just OK.

I would also love to know more about the business operations of ‘Dolce and Chocolat’ and how two environmentalists would team up and open a company together. That initial one or two liners description is not enough. There’s a lot more potential to give the business plot a little more light.

Nevertheless, I can’t deny the fact that I enjoy the main leads’ romance (to a certain point) but not the secondary romance. That one is weird and seems like an afterthought. I’ve loved Chae Jong Heyop since “Love All Play” and I was happy to see him in “Eye Love You”. I am not sure if he’s fluent in Japanese, but he made me believe he is. It also doesn’t hurt that we have a lovely second male lead who is very handsome.

I would only recommend this drama if you are a fan of the leads, and if romance is all you need but nothing else.


Completed: 5/13/2024 - Review #439

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Interesting Plot but Annoyed with all the slow-motion scenes

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75


“Hard to Find” is a mid-length drama that actually has a very interesting and attractive plot. With 28 episodes and about 20 minutes each, I would not consider this as a mini-drama, like most of the dramas that male lead, Zhao Yi Qin, is known for. There’s a lot to like, yet quite a few areas that annoy me.


What I Like:

General Plot - I really do find the general plot/story of this drama interesting. I especially enjoyed the first half of the drama when the leads reunited, up until she regained her memory. The story is easy to follow, yet not overly simple. It has a good mix of romance, fantasy plot, mystery, revenge and a little bit of palace politics.

Shen Yu Jie (FL) - Shen Yu Jie plays the female lead, Feng Yuan. The costume designer and hairstylist got brownie points from me for dressing her up so beautifully. Her acting is also the best of the cast. Checking out her profile, I realized she’s only 22 years old but has been in quite a few bigger budget dramas. I thought she is also one of those mini-dramas actresses. I see a lot of potential in her.

Great visuals & production - For a lower budget drama, “Hard to Find” is beautiful to watch. Not only is the whole cast good-looking, but some of the scenes are shot beautifully. Costumes, hair accessories, set designs and props, all look pretty good and not cheap. I also enjoy the songs played, even though they are overplayed.

Wang Ze Xuan - Without spoiling too much, I just have to say I enjoyed his acting in the last 5 episodes of the drama. He looks so ‘pretty’ and portrays the character in a dramatic fashion, but not over-the-top. I’ve seen him in “A Familiar Stranger” and I guess he’s got a knack for playing the bad guys convincingly.


What Bothers Me:

Slow Motion Everything - This is very personal, but I generally dislike the use of slow-motion in dramas for extra dramatic effects. I especially detest fight scenes that are sloooow moving and have actors posing during a fight. The first comment I wrote down in my notes is slow mo fighting (yuck!). There aren’t even that many fight scenes, so to not be able to enjoy a few good ones is disappointing. Not only the fight scenes slow, there are sooo many scenes that are shot like that. I get more and more annoyed towards the second half of the drama. It also drags down the pace as well, and I lose my focus slightly in the second half because of that. Additionally, they also change the voiceover to this slow echoey voice, and add in non-stop background music during these slow scenes.

Zhao Yi Qin (ML) - I have seen Zhao Yi Qin in quite a few mini dramas and have generally enjoyed them. For some reason, he seems to be trying very hard in this drama and appears overly dramatic. When he’s acting angry, he looks exaggerated. He frowns more than I’ve seen in his other dramas. For some reason, his acting is just not clicking with him. He’s a good-looking guy, but if I have to compare what he looks like in his MDL profile picture and him in this drama, he looks a little gaunt and exhausted, even during the honeymoon phase of the romance. Is he overworked?

Over-the-top Dramatics - Not only is Zhao Yi Qin’s acting a little over dramatic, there are many elements in this drama that are like this. The drama is trying too hard to stand out, yet comes across as trying too hard. I think the drama would be so much better if it is a little more grounded and tones down on all the dramatics (constant background music playing, shining light on faces, wind blowing at hair, etc.) The drama has a solid script but lacks perfect execution.



“Hard to Find” has such a strong start and I was willing to give it an 8.5 rating, until all the slow motion scenes accumulated and annoyed the heck out of me. The second half also loses some steam and the pace slows down. Unfortunately, in the end, I will have to give a lower rating of 7.75. I might rate this lower if this is a bigger budget production. “Hard to Find” is still a decent drama if you want something short with an interesting plot. But this is definitely not a must-see.



Completed: 5/5/2024 - Review #436

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